Federal court blocks reorganization initiative after union lawsuit challenges legality of executive restructuring.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A federal judge appointed by President Bill Clinton has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) stopping the Trump administration from implementing a sweeping plan to reorganize 20 federal agencies. The ruling, handed down Friday by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, temporarily halts President Donald Trump’s February executive order to restructure parts of the Executive Branch under the Department of Government Efficiency and Workforce Optimization, also known as DOGE.
Judge Illston’s order argues that while the president has broad authority to shape policy and administration within the Executive Branch, large-scale institutional changes must involve Congress. “It is the prerogative of presidents to pursue new policy priorities and to imprint their stamp on the federal government. But to make large-scale overhauls of federal agencies, any president must enlist the help of his co-equal branch and partner, the Congress,” she wrote.
Her decision blocks the Trump administration from issuing reduction-in-force (RIF) notices across 20 agencies and enjoins DOGE, the State Department, Treasury, and others from proceeding with reorganization measures.
The lawsuit prompting the TRO was filed by the AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Government Employees — both vocal opponents of the administration’s plans. The unions contend that the executive action would result in unconstitutional mass layoffs and restructuring without legislative authorization.
The ruling has sparked immediate criticism from conservatives. In a post on X, legal commentator Margot Cleveland called it “another lawless order enjoining terminations by agencies on a nationwide basis.”
According to NPR, Judge Illston agreed with the plaintiffs’ view that the executive action overstepped constitutional boundaries. “Supreme Court precedent makes clear that while the president does have the authority to seek changes at agencies, he must do so in lawful ways,” she reportedly said during the hearing.
The Trump administration has not yet publicly responded to the ruling, but the TRO marks a temporary but significant setback to the president’s attempt to streamline and downsize parts of the federal bureaucracy. The next phase of litigation will determine whether the block becomes permanent or is lifted following further judicial review.